Return bend coupling



RETURN BEND COUPLING Filed Dec. 15, 1938 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 30, 1940 UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to pipe coupling, and more particularly to couplings used in connection with gasoline pump installation.

One of the prime objects of the invention is to 5 design a return bend coupling which can be interposed in the gasoline line between the storage tank and the pump, and which can be quickly and easily disassembled to permit the removal or withdrawal of the foot valve in the storage tank for cleaning, repair, or any other reason,

and without removal of concrete, without excavating, or disconnection of numerous couplings, joints, etc.

Another object of the invention is to provide a return bend coupling, one section of which is readily and quickly disconnectable to permit the removal and replacement of the entire suction stub and valve as a unit, or the disconnection or removal of the coupling from the connecting pipes with but a few minutes interruption to the pumping operation.

A further object is to provide a return bend coupling which is simple and easy to manufacture and assemble, which is tight and leakproof,

bolts are so located as to be readily accessible for manipulation by a wrench or other tool.

With the above and other objects in View, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportion, and

51 minor details of construction, without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a part sectional, side elevational View of fill box and storage tank, and showing my return bend coupling interposed in the pipe line which leads to the storage tank.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the return bend coupling showing the ends of the pipe connected thereto.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view.

In gasoline pump installations, the storage tanks are sometimes buried under concrete, and when the foot valve or strainer in the tank becomes clogged or requires repair, it is very difficult to gain access thereto, ofttimes necessitating the breaking of the concrete slab covering the tanks, and then removing various couplings and joints to permit withdrawal of the suction stub and valve, and I have, therefore, designed a reand in which the heads of the securing studs or turn bend coupling which can be mounted in a fill box, and from which the upper half or cover can be easily and quickly detached to permit easy and quick removal of the suction stub, valve, etc., as a unit, for cleaning, repair, or replacement, or for any other reason.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing in which I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 indicates a fill box of conventional design, which is sunk in the concrete slab 6 above the storage tank I as usual, a cover 8 forming a closure for said box and is readily removable as desired. The return bend coupling B is mounted in this fill box 5 as shown, and a pipe 9 is connected thereto, said pipe leading downwardly and extending into the storage tank I, and a valve and strainer I0 is provided on the lower end thereof as usual, this pipe valve and strainer forming a suction stub assembly C, which establishes communication between the coupling and the tank. A casing ll surrounds the pipe 9 and is connected to the storage tank and. coupling respectively, to protect and permit withdrawal of the entire suction stub when necessary, the gasoline flowing or being pumped through this suction stub and through the line l2 to the pump, (not shown) and from which it is dispensed to the public in the usual manner.

The coupling B is formed as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, being split on the line 53 into two parts or sections I l and i5 respectively, which parts are secured together in facial contact by means of studs or bolts 16 with a gasket ll interposed between the contacting faces to form a tight, leakproof joint thereat.

A centrally disposed, threaded opening I8 is provided in the lower section I5, and the upper end of the outer casing I l is connected thereto as usual, the pipe 9 being accommodated in said casing, and the upper end of this pipe 9 has threaded connection with a return bend passage l9 provided in the cover section M, the opposite end of said passage opening into a curved passage 20 formed in the main body section l5, and a thimble 2! is inserted at the joint therebetween the passages l9 and 20 to insure a tight connection. The outer end of the passage 20 is threaded to accommodate the pipe l2, which leads to the dispensing pump (not shown) and a union 22 is provided to facilitate the mounting or removal of the coupling from the fill box.

In practise the fill box is placed in proper location above the storage tank I with the pipe I 2 extending through the side wall of the box, the casing II is then connected to the tank and the main body section 15 respectively, after which the union 22 is connected. The next step is to thread the upper end of the pipe 9, which forms a part of the suction stub assembly, into the threaded end of the return bend passage l9 and the entire suction stub including the foot Valve and strainer is threaded through the opening [8, down through the casing II and into the tank 1, until the sections 14 and 15 rest in facial contact with the gasket ll interposed therebetween, the studs l6 are then inserted and tightened, and the installation is ready for operation.

When desiring to remove the suction stub for cleaning, repair, or replacement of any of the parts, it is merely necessary to release the studs l6 and pull the cover section 54 and the entire suction stub C upwardly until it clears the main body l5, when it will be free for handling as desired.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that I have perfected a very simple, practical and economical return bend coupling and assembly which permits of easy and quick repair, cleaning, or replacement of the. suction stub With a minimum loss of pumping time.

What I claim is:

1. A return bend coupling of the class described comprising a main body member provided with a relatively large, centrally disposed passage therethrough, a curved passage adjacent said centrally disposed passage, one end opening in a horizontal direction with the opposite end opening in a vertical direction, a cover member for said body and formed with a return bend passage and of the same cross sectional areas as the curved passage, one end of said return bend passage being concentric with relation to the centrally disposed passage in the. main body, with the opposite end communicating with the vertically disposed end of said curved passage, a gasket interposed between the body and the cover, and means for securing said cover to the body to form a tight leak-proof connection.

2. A return bend coupling of the class described comprising a main body member formed with a relatively large, centrally disposed vertical passage, a curved passage in said body adjacent the centrally disposed passage, one end' opening in a horizontal direction with the opposite end opening in a vertical direction, a

cover member forming a closure for the upper end of said body member and formed with a return bend passage therein, one end of said return bend passage being open to and concentric with relation to the centrally disposed passage, with the opposite end communicating with the vertically disposed end of said curved passage, means interposed between said body member and cover to form a leak-proof connection thereat, 'and means for detachably securing said cover to said body member. I

3. In combination with the suction line of a pump, a return bend coupling in said suction line and comprising a main body member having a cover secured therein in leak-proof facial contact, a centrally disposed passage in said member, an outer casing connected thereto and to a storage tank, a curved passage in said body member adjacent said central passage, one end opening in a horizontal direction With the opposite end opening in a Vertical direction, an easy curved return bend in the cover member, one end communicating with the vertically disposed opening in the curved passage, the. opposite end opening being concentric with the centrally disposed opening in the main body and threaded to accommodate the upper end of the suction stub, the centers and center lines of the respective passages being located on a common straight horizontal line, said passage in the main body member being of a diameter suflicient to permit free removal of the suction line therethrough as a unit with the cover member.

4. In combination with the section stub of a pump, a return bend gcoupling comprising a main body member and a cover member secured thereon in leak-proof relation, a centrally disposed passage through said body member and. of a size to permit easy passage of the suction stub, an easy curved passage in said body member adjacent said central passage, one end opening in a horizontal direction, with the opposite end opening in a vertical direction, an easy curved return bend passage in saidcover member, one end being concentric with the centrally disposed passage in the main body and being threaded to receive the upper end of the suction stub, the opposite end communicating with the vertically disposed opening of the curved passage to form a continuous passage through the coupling, said suction stub being freely removable as a unit with said cover member.

5. In combination with the suction line of a pump, a return bend coupling in said suction line and comprising a main body member having an enlarged threaded passage therethrough, a curved passage adjacent said threaded passage, one end opening in a horizontal direction with the opposite end open to the upper face of the main body, a cover detachably secured in leak-proof contact with the main body and having a return bend passage therein, one end of said passage being in concentric relation with the enlarged passage in the" main body and to which the suction stud is secured, the opposite end communicating with the one end of the curved passage, an outer casing having threaded connection with the enlarged passage in the main body and with a tank, said central passage in the main body being of a size suflicient to permit free removal of the suction stub through the main body and as a unit with the cover member.

JOHN MURPHY, J R. 

